The £5bn dream

BY SOPHIE SCOTT

Victory for Luton in bid for city status could bring mega money into the area, say chiefs.

Billions of pounds could pour into Luton if the town wins its fight to become a city at the third attempt.

Yesterday, at a special event hosted by Luton North MP Kelvin Hopkins in Westminster, Luton officially launched its city status bid.

Just one town is set to take that honour in 2012 to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee - with Luton so far fighting it out against Milton Keynes and Reading.

Colin Chick, head of environment and regeneration at Luton Borough Council, is one of the people leading the bid and said: “If you look at Sunderland, (which became a city in 1992) it has had a three-fold rise within 18 months - worth £5billion of inward investment.

“It is just your status. The first thing international companies ask is ‘are you a city?’ and to be able to say that will bring more money and more jobs into Luton.

“The Queen had her honeymoon in Luton and she used to come back here every year.

“So Luton has a strong connection to royalty.” Leader of Luton Borough Council, Cllr Hazel Simmons, said: “It will bring business in to Luton.

“We have just had the news that assisted area status is to be cut so hopefully this will make businesses want to come to the area.

“This is not a town bid, it is a community bid.

“We want this to bring out the community spirit and bring people together.”